Extension card table



July 24, 1934. C. STERN 1,967,979

EXTENSION CARD TABLE I Original Filed May 11, 1933 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 July 24, l934. c; STERN EXTENSION CARD TABLE Original Filed May 11. 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 24, 1934 UNITED STATES EXTENSION CARD TABLE charles stem, Jersey city, N. J.

Application May 11, 1933, Serial No. 670,548 Renewed June 19, 1934 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in extension card tables, and has for an object to provide an improved table for accommodating four persons at a substantially square table adaptable for playing bridge; or, when converted, to make room for a larger number of players about a substantially round board more suitable for playing poker and the like games in which .generally more than four players participate.

.a further object of the invention is to provide an improved table structure in which the table top will be readily removable and reversible and in which provision is made for readily and se- 'g5 cui-ely receiving and supporting extension wings for supplementing the surface top.

A further object resides in providing an improved table constructed to receive ash trays, coasters for glasses and the like in which such g@ receptacles will be removably received upon the table yet interlocked with the table in such manner as to prevent the overturning of the same; and also preferably in such manner as to cooperate with the table structure to hold the removable and reversible table top in place, particularly at the corner portions where the top might otherwise have a tendency to spring out and to present jutting portions to catch in the sleeve of the players.

A still further object of lthe invention is to provide an improved table and folding leg structure in which the legs will be interlocked in the expanded or operative position and prevented from accidental collapse.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto. In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved table constructed in accordance with the present invention in the set-up position with a portion of the top removed for clearness.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the extension pieces in place.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the table with the extension pieces in place.

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 isa similar View showing the leg in a pulled-out position ready for collapse.

(Cl. I5-47) Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 7-7 in Figure 6 with one of the legs in collapsed position.

Figure 8 is a perspective view taken beneath the table with the extension pieces in place and two of the legs collapsed, and

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 in Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 10 designates the table top, which is preferably constituted of a relatively thin construction of cardboard, stifened leather, fabricoid or other material adapted to be removably and reversibly seated upon the table structure, and preferably being of different designs upon its opposite faces. This table top 10 is received upon the shoulders l1 and flush within the conning walls 12 provided upon the side rails 13 of the table structure; which side rails are appropriately secured together and. supported upon the legs 31.

There are preferably four side rails 13 and four legs supporting the table structure at the corner portions where the side rails are united. The side rails 13 are reinforced by cross bracing in the central or rectangular open portion of the table structure. .This bracing consists of the at brace members 14, the outer free edges of which abut upon central portions of the side rails 13 and which members 13 meet centrally. The bracing also involves other members 15, as more particularly shwn in Figures 4 and 8, consisting also of fiat pieces of wood but having their thin dimension disposed in the vertical and at substantially right angles to the thin dimension of the companion braces 14. These members 15 also cross one another centrally and have their outer from` edges engaging with central portions of the side rails 13. It will be seen, however, that the cross braces 15 are turned angularly out of true alinement with the cross braces 14. This will still permit the thin upper edges of the cross braces 15 lying throughout'in contact with the fiat lower faces of the cross braces 14 but the outer portions of cross braces 15 approach the side edges of the upper cross bracing 14 so as to leave relatively large spaces at one side for receiving the cam or wedge blocks 16 and for accommodating the locking bars 17. These locking bars are pivoted at their central portions, as indicated at 18 to the side rails 13 and these locking bars 17 are mounted in slots 19 in the side rails 13, as shown in Figure 8. In fact the locking bars 17 may be cut out from the material of the side rails 13.

The end portions of the locking bars are preferably beveled as indicated at. 20 in order to t against the beveled shoulders 21 of the slots 19 and thereby cause arrest of the movement of the locking bars 17 after they swing into the same plane with the side rails 13.` These beveled ends 20 and shoulders 21 prevent the swinging of the locking bars 17 in a reverse direction. The locking bars are provided with slots 22 which may be dove-tail or other construction and which are adapted to receive therein the arcuate ribs 23 of dove-tail or other configurations upon the lower faces of the extension pieces 24 of the table.

The extension pieces 24 will be cut out to mate with the outer edges of the side rails 13 and the mating edges will preferably be provided with grooves 25 and tongues 26, whereby to more effectively sustain the extension pieces 24 and hold them to alinement in a horizontal plane with' the remainder of the table top.

As shown in the drawings, the corner portions of the side rails 13 are bulged outwardly to form rests 29 for flanged or cup-shaped ash trays, coasters or other appropriate receivers 27 for holding cigarette ashes, glasses, bottles, etc. The diameters of these receivers 27 are such compared with studs 28 projecting from the lower portions thereof that the studs 28 may repose. in socketsv 29 provided in the rests 29' While the bottom portions of the receivers extend over the corner portions of the table vtop 10 and tend to hold such table top down in the recess in the table provided by the shoulders 10 and the side walls 12.

The studs 28 may simply fit freely into the sockets 29, or they may screw into such sockets or nt into same removably with a snap fit or otherwise.

The leg structure involves an elongated slot 30 slidable and rotatable on the pivot or bolt 31 supported by a bracket 32, there being one bracket for each leg and the brackets being secured to the side rails as by the use of rivets or other appropriate fastenings 33.

As shown in Figure 8 the brackets 32 include angle pieces 34 which extend over the lower edges of the side rails 13. These angle pieces 34 carry the bolts 31 upon which are run butteriiy nuts 35.

The upper portions of the legs are hollowed out or cut away except for the right angle flanges 36 and 37 which t into angular sockets 38 and 39 respectively in the lower sides of the bulged portions 26 of the side rails.

In the use of the table, the same is shown in Figure 1 as being set up for the purpose of playing bridge. Here four persons ar accommodated. The light table top 10 receives adequate support on the shoulders 11 all around the edges and centrally by the at cross bracing 14 which is reinforced below by the supplemental cross bracing 15.

When poker or some other game is to be played requiring or inviting a larger number of players than four, or if the table is to be converted into a dining table or for other purposes, the four extension pieces 24 may be fitted to the four side rails 13 by entering the tongues 26 with the grooves 25 and subsequently rotating the locking bars 17 as indicated in Figure 4.

The outer portions of the locking bars will engage with the ribs 23 which will lock the leaves or extension pieces 24 from being pulled outwardly, which action would tend to disengage the tongues 26 from the grooves 25. The inner portions of the locking bars 17 ride up on the wedge blocks 16, such wedge blocks being thinner at their edges rst encountered by the locking bar 17 and having inclined lower surfaces sloping to thicker portions adjacent the bracing 15. This causes the locking bar 17 to assume a tight t upon the block 16 and enables such locking bar 17 to be pushed tightly home against the braces 15. Such structure also tends to rock the locking bar 17 about the pivots 18 causing the outer portions of the locking bars which engage beneath the extension leaves 24 to firmly support such leaves and prevent sagging thereof.

The legs 31' may be collapsed in the manner shown in Figure 7. In setting up the legs, they are simply lifted so as to rotate same about the pins 31. This brings the leg from the position shown at left in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 6. The leg is then lowered to the position shown in Figure 5, the slot 30 permitting of this movement which causes the anges 36 and 37 to enter the sockets 38 and 39 and thus prevent the leg from any further swinging movement until it is lifted back out of the sockets 38 and 39.

'Ihe butterfly or winged nuts 35 are used to tighten the legs in place and assure an avoidance of collapse of the table, which collapse is so frequentv with the ordinary so-called bridge table.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that I have provided a stable and yet simple construction of table adapted for bridge, poker or other games and other uses.

It is obvious that various changes and modiiications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above 'specically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modincations being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. In an extension card table, side rails joined 12| together in a substantially rectangular construction, braces connected between said side rails, wedge blocks on the braces, a table top carried by the side rails, extension pieces fitted removably to said side rails, and locking bars pivoted to the side rails with portions adapted to extend beneath the extension pieces and other portions for riding on the wedge blocks.

2. In an extension card table, side rails connected together at their ends, braces extending between the central portions of the side rails, a table top supported on said braces and rails, extension pieces tted removably to said rails and having arcuate ribs beneath the same, locking bars pivoted in said rails with slotted portions near one end to slide upon said arcuate ribs, and wedge blocks carried by the braces for receiving and camming theother ends of said locking bars` 3. In an extension card table, side rails having connected bulged corner portions, a table top associated with said side rails, extension pieces having thin end portions for tting about the bulged ends of the rails, said rails and extension pieces having tongue and groove meeting edges, ribs beneath said extension pieces, and slotted bars movably carried by said rails for interlocking with the ribs to prevent dismemberment of the tongue and groove construction.

4. In an extension card table, side rails se- 15 Alll braces, locking bars pivoted to the side rails and having end portions adapted to ride up on said wedge blocks, extension pieces interlockingly tted to the outer edge portions of the side rails, and ribs beneath the extension pieces interlockingly ttng with the outer portions of said locking bars.

CHARLES STERN. 

